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Are you an author based in Boston, Cambridge, Worcester, Springfield, or another city in Massachusetts who has just written a book?
If you’re looking for someone to professionally edit your manuscript before you submit it to a publishing house, below you’ll find 17 top book editors in Massachusetts.
1. Jen Williams-Rapa
Jen Williams-Rapa is a professional editor and proofreader with over eleven years of experience in the industry. Her professional background includes editing positions at John Wiley & Sons, the National Fire Protection Association, as well as her current positions at National Geographic Learning and Callisto Media. Her experience allows her to provide clear direction and insightful comments on how to improve your work in progress.
Working out of Boston, Massachusetts, Jen offers editing and proofreading services to writers of non-fiction books on cooking, health, new age, parenting, and self-help. She also has a great deal of experience working on educational materials for ESL and ELT learners. Samples of her editing work include “How to Read Tarot: A Modern Guide” by Jessica Wiggan, “Danger! Volcanoes”, an educational book by Seymour Simon, as well as more technical documents like “NFPA 101 Life Safety Code 2015”, written by the National Fire Protection Association.
Speak to Jen Williams-Rapa and find out more about how she might be able to help you.
2. Alison O’Leary
Based in Plymouth, Massachusetts, Alison O’Leary is an award-winning professional editor of non-fiction written material. On top of her provided services, including developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading, Alison is experienced in the publishing process from start to finish. She can provide ideas and advice on creating an attraction proposal, what to include in a marketing plan, and other details you might otherwise not know about the process.
Alison’s editing services focus on the non-fiction genres of biographies and memoirs, history, parenting and travel. After spending roughly twenty years as a journalist and editor, working for publications including the Boston Globe and Natick Bulletin, she now operates as a self-employed writer and editor. The works that she’s edited include “Life and Death at Cape Disappointment” by Christopher D’Amelio and Reid Maruyama, as well as “Attacked at Sea: A True World War II Story of a Family’s Fight for Survival”, which she also co-wrote with Michael J. Tougias.
Look to Alison O’Leary as a professional source of writing and editing advice!
3. Katie Caruana
Katie Caruana has a reliable track record as a professional editor, both in her own business as a freelancer and during her seven years working with Bedford/St. Martin’s as their production editor. The genres of writing that she specializes in include a wide range of biographical material, self-help and self-improvement, and books classified as women’s fiction.
Clients rave about Katie’s attention to detail: whether it is about grammatical accuracy, spelling, or formatting, she constantly impresses with her attention to detail and knack for finding ways to clarify a writer’s vision and voice further. “Redlined: A Memoir of Race, Change and Fractured Community in 1960s Chicago” by Linda Gartz, “Swearing Off Stars: A Novel” by Danielle Wong, and “Resistant: A Novel” by Rachael Sparks are a few examples of Katie’s editing at its finest.
Take a closer look at what Katie Caruana will bring to your writing process.
4. Brianne Keith
Boston, Massachusetts, is home to award-winning author and editor Brianne Keith. Winner of the NETA Award in 2015, Brianne has been a freelance writer and editor for over 16 years. She worked as an editorial project manager at WGBH Education for about six years, from 2013 to 2019, honing her writing and developmental editor skills.
In addition to her professional experience, Brianne also offers writers the opportunity to work with someone with academic credentials in English literature. She is also a trained Ayurvedic Vedic Astrologer, and has the expertise that allows her to speak to those areas of specialty with confidence. She offers editing services for works of cultural and ethnic fiction and non-fiction books about health and wellbeing. She has worked on “SAT Vocabulary Lightning” by Daniel C. Eiblum et al., “How to Play Ukulele: A Complete Guide for Beginners” by Dan Scanlan, and “Yoga for Children: 200+ Yoga Poses, Breathing Exercises, and Meditations for Healthier, Happier, More Resilient Children”, by Lisa Flynn.
Connect with Brianne Keith and let her take a look at what you’re working on now.
5. Susan Lovett
Susan Lovett is a professional editor situated in Massachusetts, USA. Her greatest strength is her flexibility: she’s comfortable working with material from fantasy books to non-fiction biographies, college essays, and newspaper articles. Writers will be interested in her copy editing and proofreading services, of which she has demonstrable experience.
Susan works as both a freelance editor and also through publishing houses, most notably Story Trust Publishing. “Compass & Sextant” by Carol Hill and Phil Hoysradt, and “Restless Spirit” by Elizabeth Partridge, are a number of titles that Susan has been involved in editing.
Take a look to learn more about what Susan can do for you.
6. Alison Hall
A specialist in books focused on health and nutrition, Alison Hall is a professional editor based in Boston, Massachusetts. She is able to provide developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessments and proofreading to writers of non-fiction material. Her main areas of focus include books on cooking, food, wine, health and self-help.
Alison’s professional experience includes editing for Institutional Investor Magazine, a monthly finance magazine, and MeetingsNet, a magazine delivering material for works in the hospitality industry. Since 2017, she’s been working as a freelance editor, working on books like “Insatiable: How I fought my way through anxiety and eating disorders to find acceptance and well-being” by Heather Freudenthal and “Satan in the Pulpit,” by Gordon Hall III.
Look to Alison Hall for guidance when working on your next book.
7. Melissa Drumm
Melissa Drumm brings more than years of experience as an editor to the table. The award-winning editor holds a Master’s degree in gastronomy, and the combination of academic credentials and a knack for finding the right combination of words to put on paper is what sets her apart.
Based in Boston, Massachusetts, Melissa has been a self-employed copy editor for about three years, before which she edited for TCK Publishing and America’s Test Kitchen. She offers both editing and proofreading services specifically to writers of books on cooking, food and wine, as well as writers focused on health and wellbeing. “Just add Sauce: A Revolutionary Guide to Boosting the Flavor of Everything You Cook” and “Multicooker Perfection: Cook It Fast or Cook It Slow-You Decide”, both by America’s Test Kitchen, are a few of the books that Melissa Drumm worked on as an editor.
Connect with Melissa and let her know what sort of material you’re looking to write.
8. Amy Rose
Amy Rose’s career has been all about publishing. From her eleven years at Addison-Wesley Publishing Company as a senior production editor or her work at Jones & Bartlett Learning as production manager, director of production and vendor management, there can be little doubt about the kind of experience and expertise that she brings.
Now operating as a freelancer, Amy offers copy editing and proofreading services. She focuses her professional efforts on non-fiction literature, including books on computers, engineering, finance, technology, and books written for ELT. Notable examples from the litany of books that she’s been involved with include “Computer Science Illuminated” by Nell Dale and John Lewis and “Advanced Engineering Mathematics” by Dennis Zill.
Look into what Amy Rose can do for you and your next writing project.
9. Dave Pasquantonio
Located in Millis, Massachusetts, Dave Pasquantonio is passionate about editing for fiction. He does copy editing, proofreading, and query letter reviews for authors in various genres, from action, fantasy, and historical fiction, to mystery, science fiction, and short stories. He has been working as a self-employed employer and writer for the last five years, and is a member of several professional associations, including the Editorial Freelancers Association (EFA), GrubStreet, and the Mystery Writers of America (MWA).
Dave is a popular choice among writers because of his approachable demeanor and clear vision for editing. Writers can rest assured that he’s able to connect you with the appropriate professional resources and give you the advice you need to bring your work to publication. In addition to his own writing, such as “The Matildas,” he has been involved with other successes, like “Snuff” by E.L. McKenzie, “Growing up Golf” by Doug MacGregor, and “No Taller than My Gun” by David Rothman.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what to do next, or if your book is good enough to publish, speak to Dave Pasquantonio.
10. Larissa Mela Pienkowski
Larissa Mela Pienkowski has been a freelance editor since 2015, focusing on LGBTQ non-fiction, LGBTQ fiction, women’s fiction, literary fiction, and others. The Boston, Massachusetts-based book editor offers a whole array of editing services, from developmental and copy editing to editorial assessments, proofreading, and query letter reviews for writers.
Along with her freelancing experience, Larissa has worked as an editor with Tessera Editorial and Hub City Press and an assistant publisher with Dottir Press. “Make Up Break Up: A Novel” by Lily Menon, “The Hill” by Ali Bryan, and Everina Maxwell’s “Winter’s Orbit” are a couple of titles that Larissa has edited and help polish.
Speak to Larissa Mela Pienkowski for more details.
11. Gregory Lauzon
With an impressive client that includes W.W. Norton, Storey Publishing, Orion Magazine, and many others, Gregory Lauzon is a name that you should have on your short life of editors to consider. Focusing on non-fiction books about entertainment and historical fiction, he provides a range of services from developmental and copy-editing to proofreading and editorial assessment for writers.
Gregory worked as a staff writer for Disney Publishing Worldwide for over fourteen years before committing to his business as a freelance copy editor and proofreader, which he continues to this day. He’s worked with esteemed writers like Neil deGrasse Tyson on his book “Letters from an Astrophysicist” on Frans de Waal’s “Mama’s Last Hug: Animal Emotions and What They Tell Us about Ourselves” and with Maxim Loskutoff on “Ruthie Fear: A Novel.”
Contact Gregory Lauzon and find out if he’s a good match for you.
12. Brian Halley
Presently the senior editor for the University of Massachusetts Press, Brian Halley, is an experienced editor. He’s passionate about working with other like-minded creatives, particularly writers of non-fiction literature on topics like biographies, entertainment, history, law, LGBTQ non-fiction, nature, and political science.
Brian is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and has enjoyed an esteemed history working here. Winner of Randy Shilts Award for gay non-fiction in 2008, he’s worked as an editor for the Beacon Press and a literary agent’s assistant at the Sayle Literary Agency. You can see more of his editing ability in books like “A People’s History of the New Boston” by Jim Vrabel, “Uncertain Peril: Genetic Engineering and the Future of Seeds” by Claire Hope Cummings, and “Flashback: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder, Suicide and the Lessons of War” by Penny Coleman.
If you’re a non-fiction writer who likes how Brian Halley goes about his work, don’t hesitate to reach out and start a conversation with him.
13. Tim Mudie
A writer and editor from Weymouth, Massachusetts, Tim Mudie has been professionally editing since 2009. He offers developmental editing, editorial assessments, and query letter reviews to authors in a number of both fiction and non-fiction genres. Whether it is for non-fiction books about biographies or nature, fantasy novels or historical fiction, short stories or science fiction, Tim has a knack for finding the fine details that will help you separate your work from others.
Between 2009 and 2018, Tim worked at Houghton Mifflin Harcourt as an assistant editor, where he was able to gain valuable experience editing cookbooks, field books, mysteries, and thrillers. He’s currently a senior book editor at Appalachian Mountain Club Books, where he’s been working for the last two years. His portfolio is as extensive as it is varied, including titles from Amy Gentry, like “Good as Gone: A Novel of Suspense” and “Last Woman Standing,” as well as others like “The Unlikely Thru-Hiker: An Appalachian Trail Journey” by Derick Lugo.
Tim Mudie has helped countless other writers with their work – there’s no doubt that he’ll be a resource for you too.
14. Kit Haggard
Kit Haggard is an award-winning editor with a focus on LGBTQ non-fiction, biographies, as well as coming of age fiction, LGBTQ fiction, young adult, and short stories. Kit is based in Boston, Massachusetts, and identifies as queer, allowing her to relate personally and professionally with some of the writers whose works she supports through her editing and proofreading.
Kit’s professional career started as an intern at Macmillan in 2014. Since then, she’s worked for Jennifer Lyons Literary Agency, Ploughshares, and Emerson College in different capacities, from publishing to editing to teaching. She has also developed her own freelance editing business over the last six years, building up an impressive portfolio including works like “Thomas Jefferson Dreams of Sally Hemings: A Novel” by Stephen O’Connor, “The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place” by Julie Berry, and “The Happily Ever After: A Memoir of an Unlikely Romance Novelist” by Avi Steinberg.
Speak to Kit Haggard about how she might be able to elevate your work in progress.
15. Jaya Dalal
From Columbia Publishing Course in New York to working at prestigious publishing houses and then offering her freelance services as an editor, Jaya Dalal has been a part of the publishing world for almost a quarter of a century. Her professional offerings include developmental editing for writers of non-fiction genres like business and management, economics, history and political science.
Jaya has worked as an editor for Sage Publications, Taylor and Francis and De Gruyter, her current place of employment. She also had about two years of experience as a copywriter at Southern Realty. Books that she’s edited include “Japan’s Financial Crisis: Institutional Rigidity and Reluctant Change” by Jennifer Amyx, Sara Dickey’s “Living Class in Urban India” and “Social Entrepreneurship for Development: a business model” by Margaret Brindle and Ron Layton.
Jaya Dalal’s experience and expertise will illuminate possible changes and ways to improve your work that you haven’t even imagined!
16. Alison Duncan
Clients of Alison Duncan would describe her as detail-oriented, passionate, and mission-oriented. Holding a professional certificate in copyediting from Emerson College, this qualified editor delivers editing services, including developmental editing, copy editing, editorial assessment, and proofreading to authors. She works on both fiction and non-fiction books, including women’s fiction and young adult novels and books on education, photography, and political science.
Alison’s experience started with a year working with Focal Press as their editorial project manager for photography and digital art, followed by a year of working as lead editor for photo.net and another two years with Cengage as a development editor. Currently, she is a self-employed editor, proofreader, and French to English translator, a role that she’s held since 2014. “Visual Alchemy: The Fine Art of Digital Montage” by Catherine McIntyre, “Transformational Imagemaking: Handmade Photography Since 1960” by Robert Hirsch, and “Outdoor Action and Adventure Photography” by Dan Bailey are a couple of examples of the excellent work for which Alison is known.
Take a closer look at Alison Duncan’s portfolio and history of work here.
17. Audrey Doyle
After graduating with her undergraduate degree in English, Audrey Doyle made a beeline for a career in the publishing industry and hasn’t looked back since. The Boston, Massachusetts-based editor has years of experience working with various publishing houses and companies, including PennWellPublishing Co., Macmillan Publishers, Pearson, Elsevier, and Quayside Publishing Group.
Today, Audrey offers developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading for non-fiction books on computers, design, DIY, health & wellbeing, and technology. Her lengthy experience working as a professional as a writer and editor allows her to give the sort of insightful and honest feedback that only someone in her person can provide an aspiring writer. Her portfolio consists of books from a variety of genres, from “About Face: Amazing Transformations Using the Secrets of the Top Celebrity Makeup Artist” by Scott Barnes, to “Learning iPhone Programming” by Alasdair Allan and “Inside the World of Board Graphics: Skate, Surf, Snow” by Robynne Raye and Michael Strassburger.
Let Audrey Doyle show you how much your manuscript can improve!
Some More Top Book Editors in Massachusetts
18. Samantha Caveny
With her recent experience at Columbia University, where she finished an undergraduate degree in comparative literature and creative writing, Samantha Caveny is a professional editor. She works on both non-fiction books like biographies, health & well-being, and fiction books categorized as cultural, LGBTQ fiction, literary fiction, short story, and women’s fiction.
Despite being a relatively younger editor than some of her older peers out of the Boston, Massachusetts area, Samantha has already accrued a good deal of relevant work experience, including stints with Old Farmer’s Almanac, Qnary, Henry Holt and Company, and Macmillan. She currently works as an academic editorial intern at Bloomsbury, where proofreading and editing are an essential part of her position. During her career, Samantha’s been responsible for editing “The Beatles from A to Zed: An Alphabetical Mystery Tour” by Peter Asher, “The Skripal Files: The Life and Near Death of a Russian Spy” by Mark Urban, and “The Novel: An Alternative History, 1600-1800” by Steven Moore.
Speak to Samantha Caveny about your writing today!
19. Kate Victory Hannisian
Based in Danvers, Massachusetts, Kate Victory Hannisian has been the self-employed owner of her own editing and writing outfit for over 20 years. Her focus is books of non-fiction, from biographies, memoirs, and books on business and management to self-help books and books on health and wellbeing. She’s also known to provide editorial services, including developmental editing, copy editing, and proofreading, to fiction writers of historical fiction and mystery and crime.
Kate’s professional experience as an editor includes multiple editorships with well-known organizations, including The Donoghue Organization, Cambridge Corporation, and Cutter Information Corporation. In addition, she has even taught copy editing at Emerson College and Endicott College Tutoring & Writing Center. Her works features books like “The Bike Cop: Shadows of Dog Island Light” by James H. K. Bruner, “Waking Up White, and Finding Myself in the Story of Race” by Debby Irving, and “The Tiniest Owl” by Paul Laud.
Go with Kate Victory Hannisian, and you’ll be working with one of the most experienced editors in the state.
Are there any other book editors in Massachusetts that you’re aware of? Please tell us about them in the comments box below!
Hiten Vyas is the Founder and Managing Editor of Writing Tips Oasis.